Dual metal CMOS transistors with silicon-metal-silicon stacked gate electrode
A method of forming dual metal CMOS transistors includes forming a first silicon layer on a gate dielectric layer provided on a substrate. A first metal layer is formed on the NMOS device areas. A second metal layer is formed on the PMOS device areas. These first and second metal layers consist of different metals. A second silicon layer is deposited on the first and second metal layers. A dry etching technique is performed to etch the second silicon layer, the first and second metal layers, and the first silicon layer. The dry etching stops on the gate dielectric layer, thereby forming gate electrodes. The first and second metal layers are reacted with the first and second silicon layers to form suicides in the gate electrodes.
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The present invention is related to the field of semiconductor fabrication, and more particularly, to a fabrication process incorporating different gate metals for NMOS and PMOS devices.
BACKGROUNDIn the semiconductor industry, it is normally desirable to fabricate NMOS (metal oxide semiconductors) and PMOS devices with matching threshold voltages. In conventional semiconductor processing, the NMOS and PMOS threshold voltages are conventionally adjusted by a combination of channel implants and selective doping of a polysilicon gate. It is generally effective in adjusting the threshold voltages for PMOS devices but less effective for NMOS devices. To overcome these problems, dual metal gate CMOS transistors have been provided, with the metals forming the gates being selected based on their work functions.
Traditional metal gate transistors are normally fabricated by dry etching of metal or metal capped with polysilicon, to form the gate. Dry etching of metal is extremely challenging, as it is difficult to ensure that the metal dry etch stops properly on the ultra-thin gate dielectric, such as a gate oxide. This failure to stop the dry etch on the gate oxide results in the loss of silicon in the source/drain areas, thereby causing increased leakage current.
These problems encountered in forming metal gate transistors are exacerbated when attempting to implement dual metal gate CMOS arrangements. As stated above, such metal dual metal gate CMOS arrangements are desirable to adjust the work function and the threshold voltages. However, the traditional approach for forming metal gate transistors is not readily applicable to forming dual metal gate CMOS transistors.
SUMMARYThere is a need for a dual metal gate CMOS fabrication process that prevents undesirable etching of the gate dielectric layer during the metal dry etch process in forming the gate. Such an arrangement would prevent loss of silicon in the source/drain areas and an increase in leakage current.
These and other needs are met by embodiments of the present invention which provide a method of forming dual metal CMOS transistors comprising the steps of forming a first silicon layer on a gate dielectric layer provided on a substrate, and forming a first metal layer on NMOS device areas. A second metal layer is formed on PMOS device areas, the first and second metal layers consisting of different metals. A second silicon layer is deposited on the first and second metal layers. The second silicon layer, the first and second metal layers, and the first silicon layer, are dry etched. The dry etching stops on the gate dielectric layer, and a gate electrode is formed. The first and second metal layers are then reacted with the first and second silicon layers to form silicides in the gate electrodes.
By providing a method of forming dual metal CMOS transistors that employs a silicon layer between the metal layer and the gate dielectric layer, the dry etching of the metal can safely stop on the silicon layer, preserving the gate dielectric layer and preventing loss of silicon in the source/drain areas and increased leakage current.
The foregoing and other features, aspects and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The present invention addresses and solves problems related to the formation of dual metal CMOS transistors, and in particular, to the problems in forming such dual metal CMOS transistors related to the metal dry etch process. In certain aspects of the invention, a silicon layer is provided in the gate below the different metals, and the metal dry etch process stops on this silicon layer. This prevents the unintended etching of the ultra-thin gate dielectric layer, such as gate oxide. By preventing the unintentional etching of the gate dielectric layer during a metal dry etch process, loss of silicon in the source/drain areas is prevented, as well as an increase in leakage current.
A shallow trench isolation (STI) structure 16 provide separation between the p-doped region 12 and n-doped region 14 at the device level. Conventional STI formation methodology may be employed to create the shallow trench isolation region 16.
A gate dielectric layer 18 is formed on the substrate 10. The gate dielectric layer 18 may consist of a gate oxide, for example. In certain embodiments of the invention, the gate dielectric layer 18 is ultra-thin, and may be between about 5 to about 30 Å, for example. As described earlier, such a thin gate dielectric layer is readily susceptible to damage during a metal dry etch process. This could allow a loss of silicon in the source/drain areas that will ultimately be formed in the substrate 10. The loss of silicon causes increased leakage current.
In order to prevent the damage to the gate dielectric layer 18, a first silicon layer 24 is formed on the gate dielectric layer 18. An exemplary thickness of the first silicon layer 24 is between about 50 Å to about 200 Å. A conventional process may be employed for forming the first silicon layer 24, such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or other suitable deposition process.
A doping process is then performed, following the deposition of the first silicon layer 24, to form separate doped regions 20, 22 in the first silicon layer 24. For example, after deposition of the first silicon layer 24, a mask may be formed over region 22 and n-type dopants implanted into the first silicon layer 24 in the unmasked areas. These unmasked areas are the regions over the p-doped regions 12. The doping is a heavy doping, for example, such as between 1×1019 to 1×1021 ions/cm2. Following the heavy doping of the n+ region 20 of the first silicon layer 24, the n+ doped region 20 is masked and p-type dopants are implanted into the first silicon layer 24 into regions 22. A heavy dose (1×1019 to 1×1021 ions/cm2, for example) produces a p+ silicon region 22. The mask over the n+ silicon region 20 is removed, leaving the n+ silicon region 20 and the p+ silicon region 22 forming the first silicon layer 24.
In
The work function of the metal employed in the second metal layer 30 should have a work function close to the valence band of silicon. Suitable materials includes rhenium (Re) and ruthenium (Ru). Other materials may be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In
Following the etching of the second silicon layer 34, a metal dry etch is performed, also by reactive ion etching, for example, employing a conventional dry etching technique. Unlike conventional dual metal CMOS techniques, however, the metal etch process of
In
With the stacks thus created, the source/drain extensions 46 are formed, as depicted in
Following the formation of the sidewall spacers 42, the source/drain regions 44 are created by appropriate implantation processes. This includes masking of the NMOS or PMOS transistor regions and ion implantation into the unmasked regions, followed by masking of the PMOS or NMOS transistor regions and appropriate ion implantation into the unmasked regions. The sidewall spacers 42 form a mask that prevents the heavy doping during the source/drain implantation process.
Following the implant steps, a rapid thermal anneal step is performed, as depicted in
An exemplary embodiment has been described in which the first metal layer that is formed is compatible with the NMOS devices and the second metal layer is compatible with the PMOS devices, and the process flows accordingly. It should be recognized by those of skill in the art that in the order of metal layer formation and ion implantation throughout the process can be reversed, such that the first metal layer is formed over the PMOS devices (using a metal compatible with the PMOS devices), and the second metal layer is formed over the NMOS devices (with a metal compatible with the NMOS devices). In other words, the order in which the PMOS and NMOS devices are formed may be reversed without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The present invention thus provides a process and arrangement for forming dual metal gate CMOS transistors that is readily manufacturable and avoids the loss of silicon in the source/drain areas and increased leakage currents. At the same time, the advantages of dual metal gate CMOS transistor technology is achieved.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A method of forming dual metal CMOS transistors comprising:
- forming a first silicon layer on a gate dielectric layer provided on a substrate;
- forming a first metal layer on NMOS device areas;
- forming a second metal layer on PMOS device areas; the first and second metal layers consisting of different metals;
- depositing a second silicon layer on the first and second metal layers;
- dry etching the second silicon layer, the first and second metal layers, and the first silicon layer, stopping on the gate dielectric layer, to form a gate electrode; and
- reacting the first and second metal layers with the first and second silicon layers to form silicides in the gate electrodes.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of dry etching includes sequentially dry etching the second silicon layer with a first etch recipe stopping on the first and second metal layers, the first and second metal layers stopping on the first silicon layer with a second etch recipe, and the first silicon layer with a third etch recipe stopping on the gate dielectric layer.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first metal layer consists of Ta or TaN.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the second metal layer consists of Ru or Re.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein the first metal layer consists of Ta or TaN and the second metal layer consists of Ru or Re.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the steps of forming the first and second metal layers include depositing the first metal layer on the first silicon layer, masking the first metal layer on the NMOS devices, etching the first metal layer from the PMOS devices, and depositing the second metal layer on the PMOS devices.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the steps of forming the first and second metal layers further include unmasking the first metal layer prior to depositing the second metal layer and after the first metal layer is etched from the PMOS devices, masking the second metal layer on the PMOS devices, wet etching the second metal layer from the first metal layer, and unmasking the second metal layer on the PMOS devices.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the gate dielectric layer is between about 5 Å to about 30 Å thick, the first silicon layer is between about 50 Å to about 200 Å thick, and the first and second metal layers are between about 50 Å to about 200 Å thick.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising implanting dopants into the substrate, and activating the dopants to form active regions, the activating causing the first and second metal layers to react with the first and second silicon layers to form the silicides in the gate electrode.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of activating includes heating at between 900° C. to about 1100° C. for between about 1 to about 10 seconds.
11. The method of claim 6, wherein the steps of forming the first and second metal layers further include lifting off the mask from the first metal layer after the second metal layer is deposited.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the gate dielectric layer is between about 5 Å to about 30 Å thick, the first silicon layer is between about 50 Å to about 200 Å thick, and the first and second metal layers are between about 50 Å to about 200 Å thick.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising implanting dopants into the substrate, and activating the dopants to form active regions, the activating causing the first and second metal layers to react with the first and second silicon layers to form the suicides in the gate electrode.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of activating includes heating at between 900° C. to about 1100° C. for between about 1 to about 10 seconds.
15. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of wet etching the second metal layer includes performing a timed etch to etch the second metal layer from the first metal layer.
16. A method of forming dual metal CMOS transistors comprising:
- forming a first silicon layer on a gate dielectric layer provided on a substrate;
- forming a first metal layer on PMOS device areas;
- forming a second metal layer on NMOS device areas; the first and second metal layers consisting of different metals;
- depositing a second silicon layer on the first and second metal layers;
- dry etching the second silicon layer, the first and second metal layers, and the first silicon layer, stopping on the gate dielectric layer, to form a gate electrode; and
- reacting the first and second metal layers with the first and second silicon layers to form silicides in the gate electrodes.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of dry etching includes sequentially dry etching the second silicon layer with a first etch recipe stopping on the first and second metal layers, the first and second metal layers stopping on the first silicon layer with a second etch recipe, and the first silicon layer with a third etch recipe stopping on the gate dielectric layer.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first metal layer consists of Ru or Re.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second metal layer consists of Ta or TaN.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the steps of forming the first and second metal layers include depositing the first metal layer on the first silicon layer, masking the first metal layer on the PMOS devices, etching the first metal layer from the NMOS devices, and depositing the second metal layer on the NMOS devices.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the steps of forming the first and second metal layers further include unmasking the first metal layer prior to depositing the second metal layer and after the first metal layer is etched from the NMOS devices, masking the second metal layer on the NMOS devices, wet etching the second metal layer from the first metal layer, and unmasking the second metal layer on the NMOS devices.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Mar 1, 2004
Date of Patent: Mar 28, 2006
Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (Sunnyvale, CA)
Inventor: James Pan (Fishkill, NY)
Primary Examiner: Chandra Chaudhari
Application Number: 10/788,281
International Classification: H01L 21/8238 (20060101);